Logitech UE Boombox Review

At first glance, the Logitech UE Boombox looks a bit like something Judy Jetson would carry to a beach party on an asteroid. It’s all smooth curves and brushed aluminum, evoking the Mac Pro’s cheese-grater aesthetic, as well as mid-20th-century design.

This is the boombox of the future — there’s no Lightning or 30-pin dock. It connects to your iPhone wirelessly, or uses the stereo minijack input. Bluetooth setup is a standard “press and pair” affair, and the Boombox makes a beep when you’re successfully paired. You can connect up to three devices at once, and switch between them on the fly, making this a good investment for owners of multiple devices. That includes the Mac; the UE Boombox’s slim-ish 15.2-by-3.1-inch design is a good stand-in for a pair of computer speakers on a desk, with the added advantage that we can pick it up and go at a moment’s notice. The rechargeable battery can play for up to six hours, although we wish it were replaceable.

Under the aluminum grille, the Boobmbox packs an impressive arsenal. Two three-inch woofers and a pair of half-inch tweeters are backed by four 5/8-inch passive radiators for added oomph. And there’s definitely some boom in this box. The sound is surprisingly big, offering deep, tight bass, and good output across the spectrum. We tried everything from classic rock to classical strings, and the results were clear and satisfying. That said, the UE Boombox does emphasize the lower frequencies (to good effect) but, um, you did see that it’s labeled “boombox,” right?

Audiophiles will of course decry the compressed Bluetooth audio, but they’re rarely relaxing outdoors with a few friends, a favorite playlist, and a couple of cold ones. For the vast majority of users, the clear, loud sound will be perfect — and the Boombox is much easier to take out to the patio than a $4,000 turntable and a tube amp.

The bottom line. The aesthetics may be a bit retro, but the UE Boombox packs a punch, and offers fantastic sound quality for the money. Even Mr. Spacely would approve.